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Celtics: Running Thread

Re: Celtics .. 2016-2017

Posted: Fri Jan 06, 2017 8:20 am

by MattyB

Korver Trade Sends Message To Raptors, Celtics: The Time Is Now

Even before the Cavaliers’ latest upgrade, the Raptors and Celtics found themselves staring at a clear-cut predicament: Are the East’s second-tier teams playing for gold this season, or are they willing to settle for bronze? Now that Cleveland has plucked Kyle Korver from Atlanta, addressing a relatively minor roster weakness, the spotlight brightens on Toronto’s Masai Ujiri and Boston’s Danny Ainge. Will one of these two well-respected, calculating executives finally swing the type of deal (or deals) necessary to truly challenge LeBron James’s run of six consecutive Finals appearances?

For Cleveland GM David Griffin, the Korver addition amounts to another logical, proactive midseason move in a long line of them. Two years ago, shortly after James’s return from Miami, Griffin revamped his roster to better suit his star player on the fly, parting with draft picks and taking on salary to acquire Timofey Mozgov, J.R. Smith and Iman Shumpert in a pair of January trades. Last year, Griffin grabbed Channing Frye from Orlando at the trade deadline, adding an extra floor-spacer and frontcourt injury protection.

Re: Celtics .. 2016-2017

Posted: Sat Jan 07, 2017 8:47 am

by MattyB

Celtics survive The Process, beat Embiid’s Sixers 110-106

BOSTON – The Celtics trust the process.

In fact, they embrace it. Brad Stevens preaches that focusing on the end result takes away from the journey, which is the exact kind of thinking that makes it a challenge to turn around a 13-point deficit to one of the worst teams in basketball. It’s the philosophy that helped them fight to the finish for a 110-106 win over the Philadelphia 76ers.

Stevens found just the right combination Friday, when Kelly Olynyk, Marcus Smart and Avery Bradley dug the Celtics out of a surprisingly deep halftime hole. They went on a 17-4 run over a five minute stretch in the late third and early fourth quarters to turn that deficit into their first lead since the beginning of the second.

Re: Celtics .. 2016-2017

The Boston Celtics have climbed within one game of second place in the Eastern Conference thanks to an offense that has stampeded on people's heads over the past few weeks. The Celtics are knocking down 3-pointers at a relentless pace. They have won 10 of 12 games since Isaiah Thomas returned from a hamstring injury. All of that is good, but the nonstop scoring has masked issues at the other end of the court.

Over the last eight games, the Celtics own a 112.6 defensive rating, which would rank last in the NBA over the entire season, according to NBA.com. They have still racked up wins in six of those games because, again, the offense has been a rocket ship. But for a team that used to win ruggedly, the defensive slippage stands out. For the season, Boston has the 18th-best defensive efficiency.

Re: Celtics .. 2016-2017

The Boston Celtics have been one of the league’s best fourth quarter teams most of this season.

So there was indeed a bit of irony to their 114-106 loss at Toronto, a game in which the Raptors closed out the night with a decisive 23-6 run.

With the loss, Boston (23-15) is now two games behind Toronto (25-13) in the Atlantic Division standings. Even more significant is that the Celtics have now lost both of their head-to-head matchups with the Raptors, with two more to play this season.

Re: Celtics .. 2016-2017

BOSTON -- After swaying into a pull-up three-pointer Wednesday night, Isaiah Thomas turned around and strutted like a man with a deep appreciation of the fourth quarter. His good friend Floyd Mayweather, the former boxing champion, was sitting in the front row at TD Garden. Thomas looked over in that general vicinity, hollered a bit and pointed at his wrist, as if to say, "It's time."

Once again, the fourth quarter belonged to Mr. Thomas. Despite a couple of overly ambitious fast-break attempts, he ran off 20 points in the final period, helping the Celtics fend off the Washington Wizards, 117-108.

The Celtics did not win Wednesday night as much as they survived it. Maybe that's not quite fair; despite injuries to normal starters Avery Bradley and Amir Johnson, the Celtics batted away an obvious sleepiness to shrug off a Wizards club that has played quality basketball over the last month. Perhaps motivated by the Eastern Conference Player of the Month award that went to Washington point guard John Wall in December, Thomas finished with 38 points, five assists and six rebounds, even after some rare struggles at the rim. His teammates hit a ton of 3-point shots and played enough late defense to escape their own early lack of energy.

Re: Celtics .. 2016-2017

Posted: Tue Jan 17, 2017 7:06 am

by MattyB

Isaiah shows the Hornets what time it is, Celtics win 108-98

The Celtics came back to the Garden hot after a hard-fought road win in Atlanta that got the league talking. With Avery Bradley back in the starting lineup, the Celtics were at full strength once more and seemed eager to get the win against the slumping Hornets. The Hornets, however, proved to be a tougher opponent than their recent record would suggest.

The Celtics started strong, opening the game with a barrage of effective scoring plays. Complementing their positive offensive play with tough defense, they were able to limit the Hornets’ scoring early. But Charlotte fought back and the scoreline evened up.

Kemba Walker went off for 13 points in the first quarter, helping the Hornets to stay in the game. But Jaylen Brown (who opened the MLK Day game with an eloquent speech in which he urged the home crowd to “Choose love not hate”) helped the Celtics finish the first quarter on a high note as he managed a tough shot through traffic for a three-point play and then followed up with a coast-to-coast running bucket just before the buzzer.

Re: Celtics .. 2016-2017

BOSTON – The struggling New York Knicks were desperate for a win Wednesday night as they took on the Boston Celtics. And they sure played like it.

After losing 11 of its previous 13 games, New York emerged onto the TD Garden court with a hunger and an energy level that the Celtics could not match.

Despite missing three big men – Kristaps Porzingis, Joakim Noah and Lance Thomas – from their rotation, a small-ball Knicks lineup managed to out-rebound the Celtics 57-33. They battled for every loose ball, hit timely shots, and hustled for 48 minutes without wavering, resulting in a well deserved, 117-106 win on the road.

Re: Celtics .. 2016-2017

The bizarre Boston Celtics-Washington Wizards beef shows no signs of dying, but that won't stop the Wizards from wearing funeral attire to Tuesday night's game between the two teams.

Bradley Beal came up with the idea to dress in funeral attire. He and backcourt mate John Wall both told reporters they hope to keep the game clean, but wearing all black -- letting it be known, loud and clear, they still dislike the Celtics -- seems like a poor way to promote that message.

The Celtics and Wizards have held grudges against each other since last season and the beef seems to be growing more hostile with time. Earlier Monday, Boston wing Jae Crowder said the Wizards get "a little more disrespectful" with their trash talk than other teams. Celtics star Isaiah Thomas usually stresses to "keep it hoop," but said he knows the unfriendly history could spill into Tuesday night's matchup.